READFIELD (AP) – There were tie-dyed T-shirts and bright colors aplenty at a Kents Hill ski race organized as a tribute to a 14-year-old girl found slain last November near her home in Fayette.

Marlee Johnston was known as a unique dresser, and many of the skiers wore her favorite colors – blue, purple, hot pink and yellow – in Wednesday’s race in which companionship and fond memories were more important than who skied the fastest.

Marlee’s neighbor, Patrick Armstrong, 14, was arrested in the killing and remains in state custody. Investigators have revealed no details about how the girl was killed or what may have been the motive.

About 60 skiers from local school ski clubs and from as far away as Yarmouth took part in the race. It was put on by the Kents Hill Ski Club, to which Marlee belonged, with proceeds earmarked for a Kents Hill School scholarship fund established by her parents.

Marlee’s father, Ted Johnston, said his daughter would have loved to participate in such an event.

“To be outside skiing with all her friends and see all these people – she would have been in seventh heaven,” Johnston said before unveiling a bronze plaque to hang in the ski lodge at the school she planned to attend in the fall.

The plaque read: “Marlee Johnston, whose effervescent personality, concern for others, love of learning and enthusiasm for alpine skiing serve as an inspiration for us all.”

Not everyone at the race came to ski.

Winthrop Middle School student Kelly Miles, who sat next to Marlee in social studies class and was her teammate on the soccer field, felt it was important to show up to remember her friend.

“I think this was an awesome idea,” Miles said. “’cause Marlee loved skiing a lot. It’s a lot of what she talked about during the winter.”

Copy the Story Link